I’m not a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). I know, big shocker there. But I am a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance (BBBA). And, like the BBWAA, the BBBA votes for the Hall of Fame every year, using the same rules and the same ballot. Does it mean anything? Not in the least. But it’s fun.

Like a lot of BBWAA members, I believe in making your Hall of Fame vote — official or not — public for all the world to see and yell at you for.

Also, the time of year where everyone’s “[XX] Reasons For [insert team name] Fans To Be Thankful” pieces come out. And I do mean EVERYONE’S.

Two years ago I wrote about the things I was thankful for as it relates to the Padres. I thought it would be fun to go back and look at how those things worked out then give a new reason to be thankful.

One thing that all of these trades, draft picks, and international signings say to me is that Lake Elsinore is going to be the perfect place for Padres fans to watch baseball on a regular basis. And, it’s looking like it’s going to be that way for a couple of years, at least.

I’ll be honest, I should have written at least part of this earlier in the season. But the influx of talent to the lower levels of the minor leagues made it relevant again.

In the three years Mike Dee has been the president of the Padres, the amount of public relations screw-ups, oopsies, and outright disasters have far outweighed any good that may have come during his tenure.

From forcing general managers to waste draft picks on alcoholic football players, to naming a part of Petco Park after a reviled figure in baseball, to just straight up screwing the pooch when it comes to fans complaints, Dee’s reign at the top is marked by failure.

Statement Regarding Ron Fowler’s Comments of
June 1, 2016

In response to the growing number of jokes being thrown around about Ron Fowler’s rant being a modern day equivalent of The Announcement, the Ghost of Ray Kroc has released the following statement for the press and public.

Kenney has been a sportswriter for the San Diego Union-Tribune since 1985. Triumph Books has published a series of books about sports teams’ histories and asked Kenney if he would write one about the Padres.

The title says it all. The book is 100 things in Padres history that fans — maybe not should — but perhaps would be interested to know. People, dates, numbers, and events that helped shape the Padres into what they are today.

First off, Randy Jones wrote the foreword. You know, the barbecue guy. Oh, Jones also won the 1976 Cy Young Award while pitching for the Padres. Oh, he was the first person inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame. Oh, and his number 35 was also retired by the Padres.

I can’t think of a better way to begin a book about the Padres than to have the Crafty Lefty get the start. So right off the bat (pun intended), the book has some credibility.